Friday, September 16, 2011

First Ever Give Back Giveaway

If you’ve been reading my blog for longer than, like, a month, you probably know I’ve always been an advocate of giving back. Karma, my friends. Such an important thing, in so many ways. In that vein, I think it’s been way too long since 1) blogged about a good cause and 2) gave away something fun.

SO. Today I’m going to do both.

I have a friend whose son, at age 5, was diagnosed with Type 1 juvenile diabetes. The diagnosis altered his life dramatically, as well as the lives of his family members. Three years later, with an insulin pump attached to him 24/7, his disease is what his mother calls, “under control.” But controlled is not a cure.

A cure would mean so much more freedom for children like him. Every year, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation holds a Walk to Cure Diabetes, during which they hope to raise money for diabetes research.

This is the cause for which I will be donating this week. But that’s not all. In an attempt to reward (in a small way) my readers for their efforts to give back, I’m going to host a giveaway.

One lucky winner will be given the choice between a hardcover signed copy of Matched, by Ally Condie—OR—a paperback copy of Taken by Storm by Angela Morrison. This book is not signed, but if this is your choice, I’ll include a Sing me to Sleep bookmark, which IS signed by Angela. (Both books are at the top of my list of favorites, just FYI.)

To enter is simple.

1. If you aren’t already following this blog, hurry up and do that. Invite your friends, too, if you like. I won’t complain.

2. Donate to a charity of your choice (but if you donate to the same one as me, I will be ever-so-grateful).   **Donations do not have to be financial. Service to a greater cause is also acceptable. (Food to the food bank, manual labor to Habitat for Humanity, volunteering at a soup kitchen or animal shelter, etc.)  

3. Leave a comment here in which you tell me about the charity to which you donated, why you chose that particular one, and if possible, share a link that I can pass on to my readers.

This will be an on-your-honor giveaway, because I trust you. But just so you know, if you lie, Karma will send computer gremlins to break into your hard drive and lay eggs in all your programs and eat your important documents, and my parking fairy will curse you to never get a good spot ever again.

You don't want to bring Karma down on your head. Just sayin.

I’ll keep this giveaway open until midnight on Saturday, September 24th, 2011, and announce a winner sometime the following week (but hopefully Monday the 26th).

Go forth and give, my friends. Eventually, it will come back to you.

10 comments:

Carolyn V said...

Wow, he was 5? That is so young. I hope they do find a cure.

What a great idea Nichole. I think giving back is so important.

Vivien said...

Great cause! I donated some money to the American Red Cross. I just think this charity is a great staple. They help a lot of people.
GFC follower

Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

Angie said...

Great idea, Nichole! I'll come back to let you know where I've donated...

Unknown said...

Today I ran a fundraiser to purchase books for the special ed teachers at my school. They put up a table of "wish list" books--most of which were purchased by parents & donated outright. They also got a percentage of the book/cupcake sales on a giftcard to buy more books!I did a book signing & organized entertainment to bring in more people. Fun, but tiring!

Rachelle Christensen said...

This is a neat idea! I'd love to win that Taken By Storm book, it's the only one in the set of 3 I don't have yet. :)
My neighborhood is doing a big service project on Saturday and I'll be taking some food for the Utah food bank. But today I also made some cinnamon rolls and took them to a family. I know that's not a "charity" per se, so I'll count the food bank for technicality but I love to have the chance to brighten someone's day.

RaShelle Workman said...

Great idea, Nichole. You're awesome.

Gail said...

This is the most awesomeness idea I've ever seen. I didn't donate to a huge charity or anything but I did take dinner into a dying friend and her family. She died the next day but I was so grateful that I was able to do that for them. Does this count?

Debbie Davis said...

Fantastic idea Nichole! I love it!

Some things I did this last week to help others were; I took dessert in to a friend home from the hospital who was very ill, brought note books to a friend on bedrest so she could keep writing, gave a free swim lesson, and took cookies into my daughter's class at school. Will those count?

I hope that your freind's son can do well, I have a friend who got juvenille diabetes and is my age now and thriving, I hope the same for him.

I remember asking her why she had chocolate bars and sugar cubes by her head board, while she stuck herself with a needle filled with insulin she said it was incase her blood sugars went too low in the middle of the night so she could prevent a seizure. I remember thinking wow! She does this everyday!

Melissa Lemon said...

This week and last I have organized a charity fundraiser for a family in my neighborhood who needs help paying medical bills. Holy cow! I don't think I could count the hours that I and so many friends and neighbors have put in. It has taught me so many things and given me a new respect for people who do this on a regular basis or who run a non-profit or charity. Great contest!

Wendy Swore said...

We donated 7,771 pounds of fresh sweet corn to the food bank. 50 dozen to the veterans home, 300 dozen to aid for friends, and 20 dozen to the bannock youth foundation. Also last week we raised $350 for the march of dimes. (we were "arrested" and had to make bail. It was sort if a busy week. Thanks for Telling me about this, Nichole! I'd love a book!